At states, no easy path for confident Panthers

Schuylkill Valley is on quite a roll after knocking off previously undefeated Boiling Springs before avenging its only loss of the season to win its first District 3-AA team tournament title in 10 years.

Its reward? Possibly a match with the top-ranked Class AA team in Pennsylvania.

The Panthers (25-1) head to the Giant Center in Hershey today for the PIAA team wrestling championships. Their opponent in the quarterfinals at noon is likely to be District 5 champion Bedford (15-0), ranked No. 1 in the state by Off the Mat.

Bedford faces a second-round match today at 8 a.m. against District 11 champion Wilson Area, with the winner to take on Schuylkill Valley.

"We're going to do well at states," Panthers senior 130-pounder Mike Giorgio said. "We're going to wrestle hard, get as far as we can and hopefully we're in the finals."

To get there, Schuylkill Valley will have to get past a talented Bedford team that has seven wrestlers ranked among the top 16 in the state at their respective weight classes. Bedford defeated District 6 runner-up Forest Hills 49-10 Tuesday in a first-round match.

Bedford is led by Josh Krupa, ranked No. 1 in the state at 285. Other top Bisons are Cody Shippey, fifth at 215; Tanner Ripple, seventh at 140; and Cory Thomas, seventh at 119.

But the Panthers don't seem intimidated. They just took care of two teams ranked ahead of them, first Boiling Springs and then Bermudian Springs. The Eagles, last year's 3-AA champion and state runner-up, had handed Schuylkill Valley its only loss Jan. 3.

Since then the Panthers have used a balanced lineup that includes 10 wrestlers with 28 wins or more to win 13 straight and capture their first Berks title in 12 years. Junior 135-pounder Colin Shober, ranked second in the state after placing third last year, leads the way with a 36-1 record.

"We'll bring our 'A' game," Shober said.

If the Panthers can get past Bedford, they will advance to the semifinals Saturday at 9 a.m. The championship match is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. A loss will drop Schuylkill Valley into the consolation bracket for a match today at 4 p.m.